What I Learned After Getting My License

Getting your driver’s license as a teenager is one of the most exciting milestones you can reach. After taking a driver’s education course and hours of behind-the-wheel training, studying, and practicing, I finally passed my written and driving test at the DMV. It took many months, tears, and hugs, but I made it. With this new freedom and adventure came new challenges that most teenagers may not have considered. I faced preparing for the routes I would take, avoiding the temptation of my phone, and meeting the overwhelming requests from all my friends for rides. I did not realize how different my driving experience would be without an adult next to me guiding me and telling me what to do.

With the convenience of smartphones, I can easily find the perfect route to where I want to go, but navigating, driving, and listening are different tasks. I have had to learn how to hyper-focus while driving. Here are some practical tips I have made to make using navigation. Since I am using my smartphone for driving, I have to keep my notifications silent to not distract myself while behind the wheel. I have set the voice on my navigation with someone whose accent I enjoy and want to listen to. I look at the entire route before starting the engine to understand the map and not just the immediate turns from my house. I look at alternative ways if I feel like I need to avoid driving on the freeway. I evaluate if it is worth more time to avoid highways. Lastly, I look at what freeways I will need to take and if there are any tricky transitions that I must make. I feel more confident while driving if I feel prepared with my route before starting the engine.

Having my smartphone on display in front of me while driving can be a significant distraction. I have had to develop a good amount of self-control to not touch it while driving, especially while stopped at an intersection or during traffic. I remind myself that I can keep off my phone while in class and can do the same while driving. A tip that I found helpful is setting my phone on DO NOT DISTURB (DND). This prevents any texts and calls from coming in that may tempt me to answer. I can respond once I get to my destination. No response is more important than my safety. I have prepared my friends and family to know that when my phone is on DND, I am driving, and I will respond when I reach my final destination. This may irritate some people, but in the end, I communicate when it is safe. This is a priority.

With the convenience of driving services like LYFT and Uber, many teens need to get their driver’s licenses immediately. I have had to set boundaries for myself and my friends. Very few of my friends have driver’s licenses, so the ride requests came pouring in when I got mine. As convenient as it would be to add a couple of passengers in my car when going in the same direction, I have had to say no. I know that friends would be another distraction. They would want the music on and loud. They would like to engage me in conversation that would shift my focus, and they may have different opinions on routes and navigation. Since my friends have had to figure out transportation on their own before my license. I ask them to reply on these same systems now. This may change when I become a more comfortable and confident driver, but for now, my safety and the safety of others come first.

Before getting my license, I studied how to drive. I learned the importance of wearing a seat belt and not drinking and driving. My parents taught me about the car’s functions, how to pop the hood, and how to fill it with gas. I learned hand signals, street signs, and how to maintain a proper speed limit. I studied the DMV driving manual front to back. I did not prepare myself for navigation, my smartphone, and my friends. There are so much a new driver faces. Now that I am a licensed driver, I have developed tips to manage these issues. It takes work, confidence, and concentration. It is not easy, but I try my best to make the best decisions possible for my life and the lives around me in the cars on the road.